1 Dallas Park & Recreation. Cedar Ridge Preserve Annual Report Park and Recreation Board February 16, 2017

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1 1 Dallas Park & Recreation Cedar Ridge Preserve Annual Report Park and Recreation Board February 16, 2017

2 About Cedar Ridge Preserve Physical Characteristics 633 Acres (0.995 sq. mi) Topology is a plateau/escarpment with 180- foot elevation change Ecosystem comprised mostly of forest with some prairie Roughly half of the area is untouched Amenities 10 miles of hiking trails Refurbished restrooms Education building with classroom Native plant butterfly garden and five-sense gardens Amphitheater-style stage and benches A free Things to Do on Park & Recreation Department website 2 Dallas Park & Recreation

3 CRP and Audubon Dallas Partners for Nearly 15 Years 2002 Established as Cedar Ridge Preserve (CRP); half owned by the City, half leased from the County 2003 Dallas Park Board contracted Dallas County Audubon Society for CRP management 2012 Most recent renewal of management contract with Audubon Dallas 3 Dallas Park & Recreation

4 Praise For CRP Above all the others, I like Cedar Ridge Preserve, an area near Joe Pool Lake that is managed by Audubon Dallas. The first time I hiked there, I carried my 2-year-old son Will in a backpack. I wouldn t try that now. He s 26. Both my boys eventually walked trails here. Cedar Ridge is hilly and provides several spots with great vistas. The intermittent creeks are places to wade and explore. Perhaps my favorite spot is on the Cattail Pond Trail, where a bench sits in the shade of a juniper. After a rain, the creek comes alive with the gentle sound of falling water. Cedar Ridge is a habitat for our most colorful bird, the painted bunting. I love walking down the hill to the pond and listening for its intricate song. Bill Holston, The 6 Best Hikes in Dallas D Magazine, April Dallas Park & Recreation

5 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 27,226 20,236 Who Visits CRP? 251,952 Visitors for FY ,096 10,992 20,420 22,270 19,900 15,122 17,948 24,874 34,516 25,352 5,000 0 Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Visitors match county diversity 2.0 visitors per car 36% City of Dallas 73% Dallas County 96% Dallas & adjoining counties 5 Dallas Park & Recreation

Compass, hiking, running classes Plant/bird walks guided by Master Naturalists Research 13 year

6 Educational Offerings Education is Freedom School/Recreation Center field trips 11 Dallas CBDG groups Cedar Hill Action Team (28) Founders Academy Freshman Class (75) Alcuin Middle School (28) REI Map & Compass, hiking, running classes Plant/bird walks guided by Master Naturalists Research 13 year ongoing Orchid study inaturlalist Biodiversity of CRP Project Page Monarch watch 6 Dallas Park & Recreation

Volunteer Engagement Conservation in Action: Workday 3 rd Saturday of each month North Texas Master Naturalist Fall Big Chapter Project Scout Projects Nine Eagle Scout projects (4 complete, 5 in

7 Volunteer Engagement Conservation in Action: Workday 3 rd Saturday of each month North Texas Master Naturalist Fall Big Chapter Project Scout Projects Nine Eagle Scout projects (4 complete, 5 in process) Multiple Philmont conditioning hikes every week through the spring and summer Community Service Education Scouts Court-Supervised Roughly 75 volunteer visits totaling 260 Hours each month Partnership with REI to promote volunteer activities 7 Dallas Park & Recreation

8 Founder s Centennial Memorial held March 26 for Dr. Stanford s 100 th birthday Biomedical research scientist, surgeon in British Army and expert in resource and recovery planning Founded Greenhills Environmental Center in 1976 with 1,000 acres loaned by Dave Fox (Fox & Jacobs) Became Dallas Nature Center in 1987 Became Cedar Ridge Preserve 2002 Dr. Geoffry Stanford Dallas Park & Recreation

9 Domingo Mendez, The Only Constant Mingo has worked at the property since 1981! He is the groundskeeper, mechanic, naturalist, arborist, Hispanic Ambassador, and heart of Cedar Ridge Preserve Through changing managers and property names, there has always been Mingo 9 Dallas Park & Recreation

10 Policies Developed by Audubon Board and Advisory Committee Community Service Established screening procedures, acceptable violations Rain/Mud Close trail if hikers go off trail for mud Close preserve if hikers go off most popular trail Parking For efficiency and safety, areas designated for no parking, large vehicle only, large vehicle restricted, small vehicles only, and appropriate use of grass areas Heat alerts Criteria for extraordinary action, preserve closure UTV usage Allow use by Fire/Rescue Restrict drivers, allow recall for emergency use 10 Dallas Park & Recreation

11 Cedar Ridge Preserve Income Category FY2016 Actual FY2017 Budget Income CRP Contributions $4,175 $4,000 Donation Box $26,985 $24,000 Education Revenue $4,879 $0 Field Trips/Races $2,034 $4,000 Friends of CRP $4,508 $5,000 Grants $5,650 $6,000 Hike-a-thon $1,287 $1,500 Payment for Services $58,949 $58,949 Merchandise Sales $427 $500 Parking $678 Total Income $109,571 $103, Dallas Park & Recreation

12 Cedar Ridge Preserve Expenses Category FY2016 Actual FY2017 Budget Expenses Conservation $0 $1,000 Friends Program $88 $200 Grant Expenditures $7,400 $6,000 Habitat Management $38,554 $39,000 Improvements $5,223 $5,000 Insurance $2,500 $2,500 Maintenance & Repairs $9,593 $12,000 Merchandise $1,740 $1,800 Security $9,050 $11,000 Supplies $17,144 $9,000 Telephone/Internet $1,444 $1,500 Tools $2,257 $2,500 Total Expenses $94,991 $91, Dallas Park & Recreation

13 FY16 Major New Expenditures Non-Recurring Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) $7,040 Electrical Renovation $4,650 Transportation container $2, tons of crushed concrete, granite $2,200 Brush Hog attachment for tractor $1,250 Wood chipper $ 900 Weather station $ 750 Riding mower repair $ 700 Knox Box, Lock $ 400 New Recurring Weekly Restroom Service $3, Dallas Park & Recreation

14 Budget Comments Category FY2016 Actual FY2017 Budget CRP Total Income $109,571 $103,949 CRP Total Expenses $94,991 $91,500 Net Income $14,579 $12, Payment for Services was received in March, while FY2016 ended August 31 Prior four years, net income was on the order of -$10,000 each year, pulling from Audubon funds Per our bylaws, the financials are audited only at the end of the Treasurer s 2-year term, this coming May CRP benefits from unallocated Treasurer and Communication expenses (~$11,000/year) not shown We have substantial deferred maintenance not mentioned 14 Dallas Park & Recreation

15 Budget Expectations As a non-profit group relying upon volunteers for services, including operation of CRP and tracking of CRP revenue and expenses, Audubon Dallas stands behind the total dollar amounts listed in the Budgets Assignment of income and expenses to specific categories does not necessarily comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles Audubon Dallas makes good faith efforts to properly allocate all income and expenses Audubon Dallas s full books will be audited this year, and we will do our best to conform the CRP budget to GAAP as interpreted by our auditors 15 Dallas Park & Recreation

Progress on FY16 Forecast Projects Water fountain installation completed Serves people, pets, and bottles Protect trails from over-use in inclement weather Water diversions, rock fill, mulch in

16 Progress on FY16 Forecast Projects Water fountain installation completed Serves people, pets, and bottles Protect trails from over-use in inclement weather Water diversions, rock fill, mulch in abundance applied to problem trails Policy established for closing a trail or for closing the preserve Trail conditions, closures posted on web site Weather Station Rain varies dramatically with specific location in the area due to the escarpment Station provides temperature, rainfall and wind within the preserve Online at Weather Underground ( Station Name = Cedar Ridge Preserve, Station ID = KTXDALLA342 Mobil app allows access to current conditions, last 2 days, forecasts Web site allows access to all data since we went on-line July Dallas Park & Recreation

Infrastructure Status Buildings: Education, Rest Rooms and Work Shed Lighting, electrical updated; all

new) Containers primed, art work planned to blend with surroundings Nine bridges Two largest bridges have

Two 10-foot tall observation towers One renovated 2014: stair structure updated Other has numerous

Observation Deck at the pond Parking Pilings tipping; keeping watch Recovered spaces lost to road

17 Infrastructure Status Buildings: Education, Rest Rooms and Work Shed Lighting, electrical updated; all fluorescent tubes eliminated Need minor leak fixes Secure storage: three transportation containers (one new) Containers primed, art work planned to blend with surroundings Nine bridges Two largest bridges have limited service life due to erosion of footings Replacement cost around $5,000 each if done commercially Two 10-foot tall observation towers One renovated 2014: stair structure updated Other has numerous structural issues; engineer recommends full replacement Fixes identified and performed to extend life Observation Deck at the pond Parking Pilings tipping; keeping watch Recovered spaces lost to road expansion by better marking, utilizing grass areas Overflow diverted to Recreation Center next door 17 Dallas Park & Recreation

Looking to the Future for FY2017 Educational initiatives UTV Trailer Stripe fire lanes, handicap parking Bog Bridge (half) Tower Renovation Scientific signage

18 Looking to the Future for FY2017 Educational initiatives UTV Trailer Stripe fire lanes, handicap parking Bog Bridge (half) Tower Renovation Scientific signage Name entrance road Container art project Monitor structures Entrance fence Management contract Wildlife cameras Contract compliance 18 Dallas Park & Recreation

19 Bret Schubauer 19 Dallas Park & Recreation

20 20 Dallas Park & Recreation Cedar Ridge Preserve Annual Report Park and Recreation Board February 16, 2017

January 2018 Air Traffic Activity Summary

January 2018 Air Traffic Activity Summary Jan-2018 Jan-2017 CY-2018 CY-2017 Passengers 528,947 505,421 4.7% 528,947 505,421 4.7% Passengers 537,332 515,787 4.2% 537,332 515,787 4.2% Passengers 1,066,279